7 Little Changes That’ll Make a Big Difference In Your Trekking

I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.

—Georg C. Lichtenberg

If you have trekked through my one of the previous blogs titled Why Trekking is Ruling the World in Mental Peace and Serenity? And are planning to equate your lifestyle to that of Peter of my story, hold on.

Hold on, because, on this trek of words, (emphasizing on the small in size but big in impact changes) I will cement your physical and mental endurance in a way that your first ever trekking experience will be a preeminent and jostling one for you and for others who look up to you.

If you are an iron-jawed individual with a never say die attitude, all you need is to pass yourself on the checklist of seven essentials marked below, to make your first ever trekking affair a walk away. And if any of these seven mandates are not fitting your baggage right now, then fit them in. Make the necessary changes if better and best is all that you seek as a prospective futuristic hiker or trekker.

1. Say goodbye to all your fears

You are human. And like every other human you have your fear or are phobic towards your set of reasons. But when you are about to set on the trail, you should learn to overcome your fear like you overcome the challenges. Once you learn to fight back with your fear, trekking will further teach you to erase them forever from your life. Do watch the five-minute video titled the Green Tunnel by Kevin Gallagher to comprehend why changing your attitude towards your fears is essential when you have made up your mind to adventure treks.

2. Make walking and exercise your routine

Trekking and hiking are an arduous event which requires you to be physically fit and at your best. Although no person is a perfectionist, you should give all time to your body to accustom itself to the mind jostling episodes nature will come up with during your entire trekking session.

Practice walk daily without any excuse for bad season or headache or stomach ache. Because once you are out of the roof of your premise for the trail, there is just one final stoppage (with small breaks for sure). Cardio training and leg training are the preferred exercise options.

3. Take up short backpack hikes

Although one is always advised to move with a minimalistic backpack when on the hike, an individual cannot avoid the essentials. And so a backpack with some weight will always be glued to your back like a baby kangaroo to its mom. Try to practice your daily walks with your backpack on. It will be best if you can train yourself with weight equal to slightly greater than, that you plan to carry on the final trek. Also, make use of the backpack, you will be using on your final trek, during your practice sessions.

4. Prepare yourself for basic living conditions

You must be the pampered one at your home, but nature does not and will not pamper you. So accustom yourself to basic and minimal living conditions. I don’t doubt you owning a king-size bed, back home, but when on trekking or hiking tent is your abode. It’s the only space you have for your aching legs and sore back. Dim lit tents at night with bugs musical concert is another adjustment one needs to make. If this was more than enough for you, remember you wouldn’t be blessed to have a daily shower or sanitized washrooms. So mentally prepare yourself for the worst to experience the best.

“Adaptability is about the powerful difference between adapting to cope and adapting to win.”

—Max McKeown

5. Good health is your wealth

Remember you are your medical assistant outside the home. Avoid any situation which can deteriorate your health condition to an extent that your trek gets adversely affected. Start preparing yourself by embracing healthy living much before you plan to begin your trail. Carry a small dosage of the medication for yourselves.

6. Make small goals

Irrespective of the fact that it is your first trail or a numbered one, apart from one final goal in mind, the trekker should always schedule small micro-goals, to keep himself or herself moving. Breaking the entire trek in small intervals gives the much needed mental fuel and physical rest to the trekker and hiker. It also erases any sort of negativity which dives in when the human body is exposed to the actual treacherous treks of nature.

7. Learn to expect and accept the unexpected

In spite of all the books and web content, you brushed your mind with before initiating your trekking session, be ready to expect the unexpected. And if you want to remain strong-minded on your trek, be ready to accept the unexpected. There will be times when instead of its beauty, nature will show you its rough face and moments when mirage of home comfort and amenities will be created. But for all these situations, you should have a self-etched solution. A solution that goes parallel to the below quote,

“Set Goals. Stay quiet about them. Smash the shit out of them.
Clap for your damn self. Repeat. “

Talking of changes which are to be embraced before you even begin to hike or trail are a cocktail of mental and physical efforts. Often the landscape description and the wanderlust experience from the pro and sometimes even the amateur hikers and trekkers creates that lure in our mind and heart to give it a try. But beware, trekking is not a one-day affair with nature. It’s a complete rendezvous session with all the moods of nature.